Acoustic lining or wall covering for rooms



Nov. 12, 1935. J, OED

ACOUSTIC LINING OR WALL COVERING FOR ROOMS Filed April 17, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. l2, 1935. J. OED

ACOUSTIC LINING OR WALL COVERING FOR ROOMS Filed April 17, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 duw/mq Patented Nov. 12, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ACOUSTIC LINING OR WALL COVERING FOR ROOMS Application April 17,

4 Claims.

This invention relates to acoustic linings or wall coverings for rooms, that is, to-wall coverings designed and intended to dampen or absorb sounds originating in the room.

Various types of such acoustic linings have heretofore been suggested, particularly ceiling covering structures by means of which a covering layer of sound dampening or absorbing material, such, for instance, as mineral wool, is supported overhead, and the efficiency of such structures in decreasing the audible noisy sounds originating in the room has been demonstrated. For instance, in my copending application, Serial No. 616,690, filed June 11, 1932, a ceiling coveracter and well able to accomplish the desired functions. This type of acoustic lining for ceilings is also, to a certain extent, suitable for walls but finds its greatest field of usefulness as a covering for ceilings.

The present invention contemplates a novel type of sound dampening lining for rooms which, while available to a certain extent as a covering for ceilings or horizontal downwardly facing surfaces, is primarily intended for use in lining or covering the walls of a room, including not only the vertical surfaces thereof but the curved or inclined surfaces or cornices and the sides of beans which stretch across the ceiling and project downwardly below the ceiling into the room. The type of acoustic wall covering which comprises the subject matter of the present invention may well be and is preferably used in conjunction with the novel ceiling covering or lining which forms the subject matter of the pending application above mentioned, but it may be used with advantage entirely alone or, if desired, in conjunction with some other type of acoustic lining or covering for a ceiling.

Essentially the present invention comprises a covering including a plurality of horizontally disposed strips or slats attached to the wall surface in any suitable manner and extending outwardly and upwardly therefrom in substantially parallel relationship, these several members defining a plurality of open passages for sound waves inclined downwardly toward the wall for conducting sound waves to a body of sound absorbing or dampening material coni-ined in the rear of the same, preferably a body of mineral wool or the like confined in a relatively small space between the covering and the surface of the wall. Preferably the covering structure is built up of a plurality of elongated strips or slats ing or lining is disclosed which is of novel char 1933, Serial No. 666,578

.(Cl. 189-88) p horizontally disposed and vertically spaced from each other, each slot having its lower edge anchored to the wall or to some supporting base, the remainder thereof being outwardly and upwardly inclined. With an arrangement of this 5 type, sound waves are permitted to nd ready access to the sound deadening material which dampens them or absorbs them, particularly those sound waves which may be reflected downwardly by the ceiling toward the walls. At the l0 same time a covering structure of the type just mentioned wholly conceals from view the body of sound absorbing or deadening material interposed between the same and the wall and has to the eye of the observer a novel and ornamental l5 appearance.

An acoustic wall covering structure of the type just above briefly described is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but it will be appreciated by those Skilled in the art that, while this is the preferred lform of the invention, many other and substantially varied structures may be devised in accordance with the teachings thereof in applying the invention to wall structures of various kinds and in attempting to obtain different effects in room ornamentation.

In the drawings of the form of the invention selected for disclosure by Way of example:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through a portion of a typical room having the novel lining applied 30 thereto, the section being taken at right angles to one wall and looking toward the corne-r;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of one of the component strips or slats which are used in the building up of the novel acoustic lining, showing 35 the way in which such a strip or slat is attached to a wooden vertical member or stud and also to a metallic member also extending vertically;

Figure 3 is a sectional view, taken at right angles to the wall, through one of the metallic strip supporting members, showing several such strips attached thereto;

Figure 4 is a section on line 4 4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a perspective view, looking upwardly, of a beam, the sides of which have been covered with the novel and improved acoustic covering;

Figure 6 is a transverse section through this beam;

Figure 7 is a section on line 1-1 of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a side elevation of a portion of the side wall of a room, showing a preferred manner of treatment of a wall which is broken at intervals by vertical columns; and

Figure 9 is a section on line 9-9 of Figure 8. 55

In Figure 1 the improved wall covering is shown as applied to the cornice of a room, which may be curved, inclined, or generally broken in profile but which in this instance is shown to be curved. The side wall is indicated at I0, this wall being constructed in any desired manner and having, for instance, vertical studs a covering of wallboard I2, and a plaster layer I3 spread over the wallboard. The ceiling is indicated at I4 and may or may not be covered with a decorative or sound absorbing covering. In Figure 1 the ceiling proper is shown to have fixed thereto a plurality of longitudinal supporting strips I5 between which are supported horizontally disposed metallic panel members I6, each such panel member in turn supporting a body of sound absorbing or dampening material, such as indicated at Il, which may conveniently be a quantity of mineral wool confined in a muslin bag or sack. The details of construction of a sound absorbing ceiling construction of this type are fully illustrated in my copending application.

Intermediate the suspended ceiling covering struct-ure and the plastered surface of the side wall is positioned an improved wall covering structure constructed in accordance with the present invention, this structure including a plurality of horizontally extending strips or elongated members I 8 extending generally parallel to each other but vertically spaced apart. Each of these members comprises a lower edge portion i8', an upwardly and outwardly inclined portion |82, and an upper edge portion I83 generally parallel to the lower edge portion I8. Each of these elongated members or strips is attached at a pliu'ality of points to a supporting base structure by means of which they are all retained in the position shown in the drawings. Preferably the lower edge portion I8 of each strip is so fastened, and the members to which this edge is secured at spaced points may comprise either curved wooden members or curved metallic strips such as indicated at I9 in the drawings. These strips may be formed in various Ways as circumstances require, but in building up a wall covering which is vertically curved, such as shown in Figure l, it is preferable to form the supporting base of a plurality of metallic members such as shown in Figures 2, 3, and 4, each such member comprising a main body portion in the form of an elongated strip 20 having lateral flanges 2i folded forwardly and inwardly thereof so as to provide a. plurality of spaced sockets, the several strips i8 being provided with downwardly projecting iianges such as indicated at I84 adapted to be received within these sockets and to be firmly supported thereby.

Where a strip i8 is to be attached to a vertical stud of wood, nails or screws, one of which is indica-ted at may be passed through the flanges I 84, as also shown in Figure 2. In rear of the lining so formed is positioned a body of sound absorbing or deadening material 23, preferably a body of lose mineral wool confined in a light cloth covering, which has the capacity to dampen sound v-.iaves penetrating into the same. This material :nay be secured in position by any convenient means.

The lining or covering structure just described provides a plurality of elongated passages or slots through which sound waves originating in the room may freely pass so as to ultimately strike the body of sound deadening material, each pair of adjacent elongated members having between them one of t ese horizontally extending gaps or slots. The slots or passageways for sound waves are all directed particularly so as to directly receive sound waves which may be deflected by the ceiling lining. Where the structure itself is as an entirety curved as in the case of the cornice 5 shown in Figure l, the sound passageways extending through the same will not be in parallelism but, where the structure is secured wholly to a vertical side wall, such passageways will be preferably parallel. l0

At all events each of the horizontally extending members |8 is so designed and constructed as to extend at least partially beneath the one directly above it and to thereby prevent any particles of dust or small bits of the sound deaden- 15 ing material or other matter from falling into the room. Each member |8 also conceals from the eye of the observer the body of sound deadening material in rear of the covering structure and preferably conceals from View the lower edge I8 20 of the member immediately above it, to the end that the covering structure considered as a whole presents to the eye of the observer a neat, finished, and attractive appearance.

As has been before explained, the supporting 25 base for the elongated strips I 8 may be formed in various ways, and, as a matter of fact, the cornice may be constructed as a series of preformed panels which may be applied individually to build up the entire cornice. The individual strips may 30 be varied considerably in design and construction if desired and need not be continuous in a horizontal direction, as shown in the drawings. A cornice constructed exactly as shown, however, which will present to the view of the observer a 35 series of horizontal lines running entirely around the room so treated, is particularly attractive in appearance.

In Figure 5 of the drawings, an I-beam 30 is shown, which beam is encased in a sound absorb- 40 lng covering of the type described. Here the supporting base for the elongated strips is built up of a series of wooden frames extending transversely around the beam, each such frame having parallel vertically extending members 3| and par- 45 allel horizontal members 32, these members being secured together at their ends. The longitudinal strips I8 are secured to the vertical members at spaced points, as clearly indicated in Figure '7, and intermediate members 3| are bodies of sound 50 deadening material 33. To the bottom surface of the beam are preferably attached a series of panels 34 of the general type disclosed in my copending application previously referred to. A beam treated in this manner becomes an orna- 5 5 ment to the room in which it is located rather than a disfigurement, as has heretofore generally been found to be true.

A room having vertical columns along the side wall may be treated as shown in Figures 8 and 9, the novel wall covering extending from the ceiling level to the approximate elevation of the eye of an observer. The acoustic covering structure could, of course, be prolonged to the level of the floor, if desired, with beneficial effects, but it is o5 generally found unnecessary to align the walls of a room to this extent for sound deadening purposes. Also, that portion of the lining which would be nearest the floor would present to the eye of the observer the various upwardly and outwardly inclined passageways which are hidden above the level of the observers eye, thus detracting from the general appearance of the covering structure.

While in the drawings the ways of treating u various portions of the walls of a room have been illustrated, it will be readily appreciated that the invention is applicable to still other types of walls, such as inclined walls, curved walls, walls broken in profile, and the like, one object of this type of wall covering being its ready adaptability in this respect.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A wall covering for rooms for use with a body of sound absorbing material as an acoustic lining,

comprising a base or support and a plurality of elongated horizontally disposed members vertically spaced from each other, each such member having its lower edge attached to said support and the upper portion thereof being outwardly inclined from said lower edge, the space between each two adjacent members permitting access of sound waves originating in the room to a body of sound absorbing material positioned in rear of said members.

2. A wall covering for rooms for use with a body of sound absorbing material as an acoustic lining, comprising a plurality of spaced vertically disposed supporting elements and a plurality of elongated horizontally disposed and vertically spaced members, each such member having its lower edge attached to said elements at spaced points and the upper portion thereof being outwardly inclined, the spaces between said members permitting access of sound waves originating in the room to a body of sound absorbing material positioned in rear of said members.

3. A wall covering for rooms for use with a body of sound absorbing material positioned intermediate said wall and covering, comprising a plurality of upwardly and outwardly inclined elongated members defining, between adjacent surfaces thereof, downwardly and inwardly extending passages for sound Waves.

4. In a room having a ceiling and a beam extending below the ceiling and transversely thereof, a flat body of sound absorbing material disposed parallel to the beam on each side thereof, an-d coverings for said bodies of sound absorbing material, each comprising a plurality of horizontally disposed strips spaced apart and inclined outwardly and upwardly.

JULIUS OED. 

